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octavo, 76 manuscript pp., plus blanks; includes at front a 10 pp. alphabetical list of the names of twenty-eight women and the towns they live, or are from; bound in original red cloth, one day entry per page format, entries written in ink, in a legible hand, rear board warped slightly, some staining and wrinkling of cloth to rear board; fore-edge, inner and outer margins stained on some pages, with small loss of text on half dozen pages, otherwise good; ownership inscription of “George S. Squibb, Jr. Providence, 1933.”

George S. Squibb was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1915
and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from Harvard in 1936 and
earned a law degree at New York University in 1953. The diary offered here was
kept while he was a freshman at Harvard University in 1933.

Mr. Squibb worked for 30 years for E. R. Squibb & Sons,
which was founded by his great-grandfather, Edward R. Squibb. Early in his
career, George S. Squibb worked in the company's distribution and sales
divisions. In 1949 he was promoted to secretary of the company and in 1953
became the director of domestic administrative operations. Later he was the
vice president in charge of sales and marketing.

In 1967, after he retired, he gave testimony critical of the
pharmaceutical industry before the Senate Subcommittee on Monopoly. He accused
some in the industry of "exploitation of medicines used in life-preserving
situations by setting prices far above the cost." He said this was wrong
"no matter what justification or economic temptation is felt by the
manufacturer." Because of the public need for medicine, he said, the
industry has a special obligation and should lower prices even if it means
lower profits. He also said the industry sometimes did poor research and wasted
money.

George S. Squibb died in Providence in 1993. He was 78 and had
been living in Jamestown, Rhode Island. The cause of death was heart failure.
He was the former commodore of the Larchmont and Saunderstown Yacht Clubs and
past president of the National Club Association of Washington and the Dunes
Club in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

His first two wives, the former Ida Ellerson and Beatrice Read
predeceased him. His third wife, Thayer Keeler, survived him. Squibb had two sons,
George S. 3d of Pomfret, Vermont., and John E. of North Branford, Connecticut.;
two daughters, Colin Reeves of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mary Patterson Squibb
of Denver.

E.
R. Squibb & Sons

George S. Squibb’s great grandfather was
Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900). E. R. Squibb was a leading American
inventor and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, founder of E. R. Squibb and Sons,
which eventually became part of the modern pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers
Squibb.

E.R. Squibb was born in Wilmington,
Delaware, on July 4, 1819. At age 26 he graduated from Jefferson Medical
College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He immediately became a ship’s doctor in
the U.S. Navy, serving during the ongoing Mexican–American War. After the war
he ran the medical station at Brooklyn Navy Yard.

As a Navy physician, Squibb became
disenchanted with the poor quality of medicines used on American military
vessels and, as a result, in 1854 he invented an improved method of distilling
ether, an anesthetic. He gave away his distillation method, rather than patent
it for profit.

In 1858 he left the military and started his
own pharmaceutical manufacturing business in Brooklyn. His laboratory burned
down three times, and in one of these instances an ether explosion left Squibb
badly burned.

Between the end of the Civil War and Squibb ‘s
death in 1900, his laboratory thrived. During the last years of his life, he
left management of the firm to his sons, Charles and Edward, and together they
created a partnership; the firm being known for generations afterwards as E. R.
Squibb and Sons.The company supplied
huge quantities of anesthetics, arsenicals, and other drugs for the doughboys
fighting World War I and earned an “Award for Distinguished Service” for its
production efforts.

A near century-long tradition of supplying
the armed forces, coupled with considerable scientific and production
expertise, left the “House of Squibb” well prepared to meet the challenges and
demands of World War II. As early as 1939, company officials consulted with
military authorities on tentative wartime production plans and selected
facilities were enlarged to ensure sufficient capacity to meet future
emergencies. When America did enter the war, E.R. Squibb & Sons became one
of the largest single suppliers of medicinal products to the Army and Navy,
providing more than a hundred different products, again almost literally from “A
to Z”: arsenicals, chloroform, digitoxin, ether, methyl bromide, plasma,
quinine, sulfa drugs, vaccines, and dozens more.

E.R Squibb and Sons had been a manufacturer
of various vitamin products, but the main focus of its consumer advertising was
its toothpaste and tooth-powder products. In 1944 Squibb opened the world’s
largest penicillin manufacturing plant. In 1953, Squibb Corporation was
acquired by the conglomerate Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. When Olin
spun the division off in 1968, its manager Richard Furland became the head of
the independent Squibb Corporation. Furland transformed Squibb and placed it
solidly on the prescription drug path, not by acquisition but by reinforcing
internally its technical and functional capacities.

The merger between Bristol-Myers and Squibb
Corporation took place in 1989. The merger created Bristol-Myers Squibb
Company, which was then the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical enterprise.

Description and Sample
Quotations from Diary:

Squibb kept the present diary when he was a
freshman at Harvard University. He recounts class days, studying for exams,
various socials/dances that he attends, his friends at school, etc. He also
writes of trips home to Providence, RI; a trip to New York City, etc. He very much
likes the theater and film, and gives reviews of the shows, or movies, he
views. His entries are quite detailed and very well written:

“January
1, 1933

Here
we are again, 1933. How different the situation is from this time a year ago.
Then I could look back on 1931 as the best year of my life, while before me lay
1932, one mass of problems and questions which seemed almost overwhelming at
the time. But they’ve all worked out, to the last, and now another set lie
before me.

There
is the question of my success here at Harvard, including all the little side
issues influencing that success one way or the other, then there’s next year to
be thought about, what will I major in and so on, the roommate question too.
Hall looms pretty large now, but I venture to say they’ll all work out, and he
will be as smooth as ever.

Easily
the most important thing to decide is what I shall major in. This seems to be
the turning point for my life – work. It is a very important decision to make.
I waver between economics, history, sociology, and government. I think
sociology is uppermost now, but then there are many things in favor of each of
the other branches. I’ve got to begin to have some idea of what I want to do at
college. All I know now is what I don’t want to do.”

“January
2, 1933

Tonight,
I attended the sub debutant dance at the Agawam. I really had quite a good time
after the novelty of it wore off. The dinner before however was not so good. As
partners I had Ann Jackson & a Congdon. Couldn’t have been worse! However, it
was finally over and I escaped lightly for all of it.

Nancy
Marshall was present very cold and distant. Had the supper dance with her and
at times she was almost rude. The Kelley’s Harriet & Doris held my
attention for some while. Harriett not so pretty as she has been, and Doris at
her best. Danced with the Chafee’s, and with Emily Stone easily the spinning
lights of the next set. In a few years these girls ought to be most unusually
beautiful and charming. Had a few words with Phyliss Lord and Mary Stearns and
managed to snatched Janet Buggs away from her throng of beaus for a couple of
minutes. Helena Stuckles as nice as usual But, easily the belle of the ball for
me was Judy Chaffee. She’s a wonderfully nice girl. It seemed she came without
escort, so I was enable to fill in [throughout] the evening and could take her
home. She is attractive, pleasant, amusing, and intelligent in one!”

“January
9, 1933

Tonight,
burst the bonds of scholarly retirement and went in to the Colonial to see
‘Pardon My English,’ a new musical comedy. There met Knowles, Johnson, &
Weld, and passed a very enjoyable evening.

‘Pardon
My English,’ is a good show, as well it might be expected to be with music by
the Gershwin’s, humor by Jack Pearl, and charm by Lyda Roberti. The whole thing
moves right along, no hitches or boring moments, there are lots of good laughs,
and a swell chorus. The latter is especially noteworthy. There is some original
routine and they are superbly drilled. Jack Buchanan plays the leading role and
is always pleasant and agreeable enough until he starts to sing. Then he’s not
so good. Miss Roberti is grand, she stopped the show three times. She has a
great personality and radiates cheer, etc. The whole thing is well worth
attention.

The
theater business in Boston seems to be holding up. Tonight, there are four
shows opening and every time I’ve been to the theater the place has been well
filled if not packed as was the Colonial tonight. It shows that some people
still have money and don’t care if they spend it.”

“January
11, 1933

Today
in English class Butterfield gave a list of ten modern authors of which we were
to choose six for future discussion and reading. Of course, most of the class
were ignorant f a few of the names. It surprised me to find no one knew of
Maugham, nor O’Neil. It really is surprising to find out how little the average
Harvard man has read in the modern field that’s any good at all. All of the
names chosen were well know, if not universally spread around, but I don’t
think there were three in the class beside me who knew them all.

Henry
James for instance, a total blank. Perhaps it’s as well, as I don’t think he’s
of any value to the modern student of the novel. Then Willa Cather was a great
unknown along with Huxley and Priestley. These there all living and writing now
seem to be especially lacking in support. Another surprise Hardy of course, got
the big hand, along with I’m sorry to say, Conrad. Bennett is fairly popular,
and of course there’s always Sinclair Lewis. Galsworthy is in the middle.
Everyone has heard of him at least. The whole affair was a bit disgraceful for
supposedly educated men.”

“January
12, 1933

Today
was typical of a large slice of this Cambridge life. Spent in more or less
lackadaisical study and long ‘bull sessions,’ nothing much to show when its
over, but a pleasant day in the spending…”

“January
13, 1933

This
evening I packed George off to the Friday Evening at the Somerset. He dreaded
it like poison as it appears he has to spend his entire time in looking after his
sister, seeing she didn’t get stuck, introducing new material, and in general
acting as floor manager for her. I can’t imagine a much worse way of spending a
dance.

From
what Upton tells me Boston is a sink-hole of society. That is to say, there is
no attempt among the younger generation at polite attention to unattractive
girls, no unselfish work to make even one girl enjoy herself a little more in
short snobbery at its height. Besides it appears that the girls are unusually
plain, poorly dressed, and poor dancers. Their mother dump them against the
wall at the dances and then retire to the balconies and corners to argue and
squabble over other people’s daughters and sons. The whole bunch sounds
picayune and small in every sense. It shows as well as anything the old Boston
and even New England narrowness and bigotry and their basic snobbery and
selfishness. The whole social system in this part of the U.S. is rotten to the
core and is just an empty sepulcher of better and grander days.”

“January
19, 1933

This
morning after days of agonizing waiting and cramming the mid-year period opened
with Chemistry A. The exam was not too hard, or perhaps it was because I was
reasonably well prepared. Anyway, it was a good solid, three hours of work, no
time to waste in idle speculation or wrong work. The whole thing passed off
fairly well.

After
the exam hastened home to Providence on first train. While waiting for it at
the South Station I went into that ingenuous little theater attached to the
lobby. A surprising number of people were present and in general it was an
enjoyable show.

At
Providence went to the Biltmore for supper and then to a fiery hockey game
between the Reds & Philadelphia of which the score was tie after a rough
game. One man’s leg was broken and there were many fights and scuffles all over
the rink. It’s a pity that the attendance at the games is falling off, for I’d
like to see Providence regain its old place in hockey circles.”

“February
1, 1933

After
registering at the Commodore, the immediate need was theater tickets. After
considerable argument a decision was reached to try ‘Design for Living’ of Noel
Coward. After a long cross town walk we found no seats at the box office, but a
nearby agency sold us some for a dollar more.

Lunch
at Childs and then back to the theatre. Of course, every seat was taken, and
never have I seen a funnier or cleverer play. The Lunt’s are splendid, of
course, and Coward is their equal. The play itself is decidedly unmoral but so
cleverly handled and so well phrased that no offense is received by an action.
Of course, the one grand line of the play quoted everywhere and featured as the
theme of it all is ‘We just had an unpremeditated roll in the hay and enjoyed
every damn moment of it.’ The whole thing is a perfectly constructed dramatic
unity. Coward surely knows his exits and entrances…”

“March
3, 1933

Having
been in Harvard now for something less than six months, I can easily see the
origin of the old saying – ‘You can always tell a Harvard man, but you can’t
tell him much.’ I fell just that way already.

No
one could possibly get away from telling me that there was a place better than
Harvard for college education. But even trying to view it dispassionately I
can’t see that any other college is superior to Harvard. Here are the most
comfortable rooms at the cheapest price, the best food at the least price if I
am comparing college in America. The biggest & best college library in the
world, the best faculty with the possible exception of Columbia in the world, a
perfectly equipped and modern athletic played, and every convenience and every
club for any possible specialty or interest a man has. There seems to be only
one reason for going to any other university and that tis failing to get into
Harvard. Much is said about our snobbery, our shortsightedness and our upstage
manners, but even if they do exist they arise from real values, and in spite of
these, Harvard still produces the greatest men in the country.”

“April
4, 1933

The
jazz mad youth of today – what is it? We hear an awful lot about the
worthlessness and depravity of the modern youth, and it’s a question of the
greatest interest to both old and young to ascertain the true state of affairs.

I
have read a great deal of stuff that tries to point out the dangers and
troubles into which the modern youth with his ‘fast living’ is plunging. But
never have I seen conclusive evidence on one side or another which would
definitely settle the situation (for better or worse).

But
of course, there is evidence – perfectly definite evidence which can be
gathered at any gathering of young people and from observation of parking
places etc. The tempo of life of the young people of today is definitely
‘fast.’ How could it be anything else. They are supplied with autos, money, and
all the things that lead inevitably to such a condition, and they are not
really masters of their fate.

There
is a terrific lot of bad stuff, of dangerous stuff going on today. Liquor is
the big complicating factor. Drunkenness has become a state which if not
actually respected (although it often really is) is always tolerated and smiled
upon. This is a tremendous change from the standards of the last generation. It
seems to me to presage the breaking up of family life as we knew it. No one can
face his family dead drunk and if drinking is going on increasing as it is a
separation must ensure. What the factor is behind this trend is impossible to
day – it’s probably a complication of several influences – the reaction after
the war, the 19th amendment itself a product of the reaction, the
hastened tempo of modern life in all its mechanical aspects, the present-day
trend toward freedom of all sorts without consideration of what it will lead
to. All these things are easy to understand and to explain, but there is one
thing that seems peculiar and that is the laxity of parental control. There
seems to be no effort on their part to regulate the lives of their children of
at least a great lack of success in so doing.

There
is of course in discussing such a question great danger of falling into
alarmist attitudes. The whole importance of the situation is easily exaggerated
and distorted and it is difficult to ascertain the true condition. There is
however one point that cannot be over emphasized in my mind, the sexual side of
the modern youth’s mind.

Moral
freedom, liquor, and the growth of contraception devices have led to greatly
increased sexual consciousness among young people. Necking and petting have
become the stock-in-trade of any girl who wishes popularity – indeed the
willingness to enter into this form of entertainment is almost a vital
necessity or popularity. It may be argued that this matters little – the girl
is not harmed and it doubtless is good fun. But it is definitely harmful. It
encourages belief in a general promiscuity in later years. It destroys all the
self-control man has built up over centuries of civilization, and it breaks
down any class distinction which the socially important fiend necessary to
maintain their dignity & prestige before the masses. Here again it seems
parents fail in their duties as guiding influences and control in the lives of
their children. Chaperonage could be demanded as it was in by gone years, and
much could be done to clear up a bad situation. But the parents seem afraid of
their children – afraid of their contempt and disloyalty if they try to force
any such measures over them.

The
whip rests with the younger generation and they are using it only to speed
their own course down the way to self-destruction and ruin.

There
is a great deal of really good in the modern youth which was not found in the
old days – a courage, a frankness, and a lighthearted philosophy which is very
fine and to be commended. But these things cannot conquer over the uncontrolled
base emotions of the human animal. We must fight always to control these sides
of our nature in order to produce anything of real value. Lust and sloth must
be kept always in check or we go to ruin. Once laxity creeps into our moral
issues it spreads in a mushroom growth over all our lives. It must be checked.”